Tag: zimbabwe

22nd February 2019 Zimbabwe By African News Agency THREE weeks after the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Mmusi Maimane threatened to travel to Zimbabwe he is still to receive a response for a request to meet with that country’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Maimane visited the Zimbabwe embassy in Pretoria on 31 January to push for dialogue with Harare authorities over massive human rights abuses blamed on security forces during the recent crackdown on protests. He also threatened to take the matter to the ICC. During the brutal clampdown on the…

By Robert Tapfumaneyi PLANS by the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) to search for military uniforms and related regalia in residential areas are both “draconian” and “uncalled for” opposition political parties have said. Soldiers, the parties insisted, are trained “to use guns” and not to “investigate and apprehend criminals”. The ZNA has called on members of the public to surrender army uniforms to the nearest police station or military camp before this weekend. This comes after the security services blamed rogue elements that stole military uniforms for the killings and sexual…

By Robert Tapfumaneyi THE pariah image still haunting Zimbabwe in the West can easily be sanitised by making sure that the country’s Constitution is religiously obeyed and upheld, opposition MDC-T said. Led by Thokozani Khupe, the party was commenting after Cabinet approved the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill which seeks to repeal Public Order and Security Act (POSA) in line with the Constitution. According to Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, the development demonstrates government’s determination to pursue a reform agenda aimed at opening up the “democratic space” in the country.…

By Kinston Ndabatei PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration came short of announcing a new currency because of shame after being caught out, former finance minister Tendai Biti has said. The former treasury chief was responding to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor John Mangudya’s Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) which was presented on Wednesday. Biti last week revealed government was on the verge of announcing a new currency for the first time since 2009 when the local dollar was ditched on the back of an economic meltdown. Government vehemently denied it was…

22nd February 2019 Zimbabwe By Bulawayo Correspondent ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa, who last year underwent surgery in South Africa is still recovering in the neighbouring country, party officials have confirmed. Dabengwa has not been seen in public since November last year when he was rushed to South Africa for specialist treatment over an undisclosed ailment. Party spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa confirmed in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com Thursday that the former Home Affairs minister is recuperating at an undisclosed base in the neighbouring country. “He (Dabengwa) is now fine. He is…

21st February 2019 Zimbabwe By Mary Taruvinga TOP managers at the National Museum and Monuments department were Wednesday taken to court charged with stealing fuel worth over $24,000. The two – Godfrey Mahachi (59) and Darlington Munyikwa (52) – appeared before Harare regional magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti facing fraud charges. They were remanded out of custody on $100 bail each. Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that they started committing the offence in 2013. Court heard that Mahachi is the department’s executive director while Munyikwa is his deputy. The department is part of…

By Bulawayo Correspondent THE trial of an Airforce of Zimbabwe pilot charged with killing his lawyer girlfriend stalled at the Bulawayo High Court earlier this week. This was after defence lawyers applied to have the case taken off the court roll pending a constitutional court challenge against the composition of judging panel. Pilot Tashinga Musonza, 29, is accused of fatally assaulting girlfriend Lucky Duve, 32, in Gweru last year. The case was being heard by Justice Nokuthula Moyo and two assessors at the Bulawayo High Court. However, Musonza’s lawyers said…

By Audience Mutema SIX Harare men were this Tuesday sentenced to 5 years imprisonment each for perpetrating wanton violence and looting of shops during last month’s anti-government protests. Simbarashe Nyamadzawo (22), Gilbert Jasimoni (34), Abisha Musakanda (24), George Tomu (26), and Danny Sere (27), all from Mabvuku, were sentenced by Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya. Passing sentence, the magistrate said; “A fine or community service would trivialise the offence, as such a custodial sentence is appropriate. “Protests should be peaceful. Why should one go and loot shops, barricade roads as well…

21st February 2019 Zimbabwe By Agencies THE Iranian has expressed deep regret over the recent tragic incident in Zimbabwe’s Battlefields mine, which has so far killed tens of people. In a statement earlier this week, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi offered sympathy to the Zimbabwean nation and government and the bereaved families of the victims. Local rescuers pulled the bodies of at least 24 illegal gold miners out of mine shafts that were flooded earlier, and rescued eight more alive, officials and witnesses said on Saturday. The accident involving about…

20th February 2019 Zimbabwe By Staff Reporter MILLERS say the country was remaining with a week’s supply of bread making flour stocks, a development set to worsen current bread shortages. This was revealed by the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) in correspondence sent to the National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe this week. “We regret to advise that the current stocks for foreign wheat for bread flour have depleted to 5800 metric tonnes, and at a blend ratio of 50% with local wheat, we are left with less than 8…